Power monitoring system

Abstract

A power monitoring system to monitor electrical power supply to electrical equipments. The monitor includes an energy saving device to reduce unnecessary power consumption. A control means for enabling control of power consumption of electrical devices in response to the data output of the monitored power consumption.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power monitoring and control device including:
 a. an input plug connectable to an external power supply,   b. an output socket connectable to an external electrical device, whereby the output socket selectively supplies electricity to the external electrical device, and   c. a wireless communications interface configured to interface with a control and monitoring device.   
     
     
         2 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1  further including a power sensor configured to:
 a. sense power consumption of the external electrical device, and 
 b. output the sensed power consumption to the control and monitoring device via the wireless communications interface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 2  further including a processor configured to:
 a. determine an operational state of the external electrical device from the sensed power consumption, and 
 b. terminate the power supplied to the external electrical device when the external electrical device is determined to be in a low power standby state. 
 
     
     
         4 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 3  wherein the power sensor senses true rms power. 
     
     
         5 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 3  wherein the power sensor senses:
 a. voltage across the external electrical device, and 
 b. current through the external electrical device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1 :
 a. further including a remote control sensor configured to detect output of a remote control device that controls functions of the external electrical device or of another electrical device associated with the external electrical device, and   b. wherein the power monitoring and control device terminates the supply of electricity to the external electrical device based upon the absence of the detection of output of the remote control device by the remote control sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communications interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
         8 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1  wherein the control and monitoring device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         9 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1  wherein the control and monitoring device is one or more of:
 a. a personal computer, 
 b. a tablet computer, 
 c. a dedicated display terminal, and 
 d. a personal digital assistant. 
 
     
     
         10 . The power monitoring and control device of  claim 1  wherein the control and monitoring device provides a user interface configured to allow a user to monitor and control the power monitoring and control device. 
     
     
         11 . A power monitoring and control device for reducing power consumption of an external electrical device, the power monitoring and control device including:
 a. an input connectable to an external power supply,   b. an output connectable to the external electrical device, whereby the output selectively provides operating power to the external electrical device,   c. a power sensor configured to
 (1) sense power consumption of the external electrical device, and 
 (2) output the sensed power consumption as a power consumption value, 
   d. a processor configured to:
 (1) control when power is supplied from the output to the external electrical device, 
 (2) determine an operational state of the external electrical device from the sensed power consumption, and 
 (3) terminate the power supplied to the external electrical device when the external electrical device is determined to be in a selected operational state, and 
   e. a wireless communications interface configured to communicate the power consumption value to an external monitoring and control device.   
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling a supply of electricity to an electrical device, the method including the steps of:
 a. providing a supply of electricity to the electrical device,   b. monitoring for the presence of wireless signals of a type used to control the electrical device,   c. when the wireless signals are not detected for a predetermined period of time, removing the supply of electricity from the electrical device, and   d. communicating to a monitoring and control device data describing the removal of the supply of electricity.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further including the steps of:
 a. monitoring the power drawn by the electrical device, 
 b. analyzing characteristics of the drawn power, 
 c. when the analysis indicates that the electrical device is in a low power standby mode, removing the supply of electricity from the electrical device, and 
 d. communicating to a monitoring and control device the value of the power drawn. 
 
     
     
         14 . An energy saving device including:
 a. a switch controlling a supply of power to an electrical device,   b. a power sensor sensing characteristics of power supplied to the electrical device, wherein the switch operates to remove the supply of power to the electrical device when the power characteristics sensed by the power sensor indicate that the electrical device is in a low power standby operational state,   c. a wireless communications interface configured to communicate the sensed power characteristics to a monitoring and control device.